Michael Moline, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron took the opportunity to crow a little upon the conclusion of the 2017 Legislative Session. Even if it did run over a little. The two held a joint news conference in the Capitol Rotunda following sine die to brag on what the Legislature had accomplished. “For […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

The Senate sent the VISIT Florida and Enterprise Florida budget cuts to the Governor Monday on a 29-8 vote, but not before Sen. Jack Latvala, who has supported Gov. Rick Scott on economic incentives, took the opportunity to nitpick. The House approved the measure earlier in the day. Latvala started with HB 5501’s formal name: […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

Only one of the budget conforming bills debated in the Senate Monday drew a point of order — SB 7069, to implement the House’s ideas about charter schools and teacher bonuses. It didn’t stop the bill from passing, on a vote of 20-18. House and Senate negotiators have paired the bill with separate legislation carrying […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

Legislators from Pasco County urged Gov. Rick Scott Monday to approve legislation authorizing construction of a $4.3 million criminal forensics laboratory there that would attack the state’s 16,000-case backlog of unsolved murders. “This is not about Pasco County. This is about the entire state,” Sen. Wilton Simpson said. The project would “greatly expand law enforcement’s […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

Don’t let the perhaps flawed way that House and Senate negotiators agreed upon their $83 billion state budget tarnish the final bill, Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala urged Monday as the Senate took up the measure in an extended session. “We’ve done a lot of good with this budget” and “cannot get bogged down just […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron said Friday that the Senate was waiting to vote on two bills and then would retire for the evening. Those bills, he said, were the joint resolution extending the session past its midnight expiration time, into Monday, so the House and Senate could debate an $83 billion compromise budget and conforming […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The House and Senate staged one last conference committee Friday, agreeing on budget conforming bills containing sweeping policy changes, on public schools, higher education, economic incentives programs and more. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron did the honors personally, leading delegations to a committee room to present and consider offers on the […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate refused Friday to move toward the House position on workers’ compensation reform, but the House gave ground on how much to pay attorneys handling claims appeals. Senate bill sponsor Rob Bradley offered an amendment that would have split the difference between the two chambers by paying attorneys as much as $200 per hour, […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate’s leading education expert unloaded Friday on spending levels for schools contemplated in the Legislature’s compromise $83 billion state budget. During debate on extending Florida’s corporate tax exemption scholarship program, Sen. Bill Montford complained that base spending per student would decline in the public schools next fiscal year, notwithstanding a modest increase in the school […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate changed its mind Friday and accepted mandatory-minimum prison sentences in a bill cracking down on synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil. Senators had stripped the provision earlier in the week, but the House refused to abandon mandatory sentences and sent the bill back. Senate President Joe Negron initially ruled that Sen. Greg Steube’s […]

Michael Moline
U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart spoke on a range of issues during a Friday luncheon in Pinecrest, from immigration and federal regulations to America's funding questionable United Nations operations. Image via Jesse Scheckner/Florida Politics.

House, Senate leaders claim historic accomplishments during 2017 session

Jack Latvala gets into it with Jeff Brandes over economics incentives bill

Education bill, key to budget deal, clears the Senate by two votes

Area lawmakers, Dozier survivor pitch Pasco forensics lab to Rick Scott

Jack Latvala appeals to Senate to pass budget, despite flawed process

Joe Negron starts edging toward the exit

Conference committees complete work on budget conforming bills

House moves toward Senate on must-pass workers’ compensation legislation

Bill Montford complains about school spending during scholarships debate

Senate bows to minimum-mandatory sentencing for fentanyl traffickers